No matter what time you arrive home, they’re the first ones to greet you at the door with genuine enthusiasm and unbridled joy. The moment you call for them, they run happily over to give you their undivided attention. And during those times when you’re feeling utterly alone in the world, they’re always by your side, quietly projecting absolute adoration. Without a doubt, pet parents of doting dogs know what true companionship means as their family includes ‘man’s best friend.’
But in this same world of puppy-dog eyes, slobbery kisses, and furry snuggles, there’s also a whole lot of stinky mishaps, wet-dog aromas, and endless tufts of fur. Fortunately, we have the best 6 tips to get rid of dog smell in the house, so you’ll no longer need to hand out military-grade gas masks at every family gathering!
6 Handy Tips To Get Rid Of Dog Odour In Your House
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#1) Say Bye-Bye To Stinky Pee-Pee
Does the overwhelming aroma of urine hit you in the face the second you walk through the front door? Whether it’s Princess’s delicate bladder issue (which we don’t discuss when she’s in the room because she’s very sensitive about the subject) or Brutus’s way of letting you know he doesn’t like it when you go to work, it can be a total pain to eliminate lingering urine smell. After several sessions of scrubbing carpets and spraying fabrics, you’ve decided that the gods of Fabreze are obviously giving you the silent treatment. Luckily, there’s a non-toxic, all-natural solution to cleaning stinky carpets that are most likely hiding away in your pantry: baking soda and white vinegar.
- Step 1: Blot the area with paper towels until all the liquid is absorbed.
- Step 2: Mix 50% vinegar with 50% water in a spray bottle, and soak the area in question with the solution (if the smell is particularly odiferous, go with 100% vinegar).
- Step 3: Scrub, scrub, scrub the area with a clean, soft scrub brush.
- Step 4: Now, pour a generous amount of baking soda over the spot, and let it sit for 12-24 hours until it is dry.
- Step 5: Once dry, vacuum the carpeting (and enjoy the fact that it doesn’t smell like pee anymore).
#2) Revel In A Home That’s Fur-Free (Except For The Dog)
Pet hair everywhere? Don’t remember if that Angora throw-pillow from Chile was supposed to be that hairy? Forgot what it’s like to wear black clothing without looking like you wrestled with a Leonberger? To remove fur, hair, and fluffy stuff from… well… pretty much anything, lint rollers are a real godsend. When you take the time to get rid of dog hair from your surroundings, you’re effectively reducing the odor level.
However, on those heart-breaking occasions when you’ve pulled off the last sticky sheet from the lint roller, there’s no need to panic. There are other equally viable options to clean up your Golden’s shimmering tresses, such as:
- Dryer sheets
- Rolls of packing tape
- Wet rubber gloves
After gathering up most of the dog hair, get rid of the leftover dander, fur, dirt, and allergen particles with a vacuum. While any vacuum will do in a pinch, you may want to consider purchasing one that’s manufactured explicitly for pet hair. These pet vacs
#3) Deodorize The Air In Your (Dog) House
The truth is, there are times when, no matter what you do, your house plain stinks. Get rid of those prevalent, powerful pup perfumes with these sure-fire tricks that work best when used together:
- Go all-natural with citrus peels by placing them all over your home.
- Hide small, opened boxes of baking soda throughout the house, ideally in every room to absorb the unwelcome scents.
- Install an Air Purifier
, and make it a point to change the filters regularly.
- Air out your home 2-3 times a week by opening your windows.
#4) Prevent Stains (And Stink) With Pet-Friendly Throw Covers
Prevent doggie mishaps and the nose-wrinkling scents that follow them with simple, pet-friendly throw covers or Sofa Covers
#5) The Cleaner The Toys, The Better The Air Quality!
Does your canine companion love to chew on their favorite stuffed toy? Is your Retriever always retrieving his prized tug-rope… with his ever-drooling mouth? Then, perhaps it’s time to introduce their toys to Mr. Washing Machine. And that annoying, squeaky, rubber chicken you’ve been fantasizing about shipping to China, it can take a turn in Mrs. Dishwasher. No, this isn’t a joke, we’re quite serious! You see, all that gnawing, salivating, and licking ends up creating a scary amount of bacteria and germs. Remember the last time you entertained your pup by playing fetch with that loud, headache-inducing rubber chicken? Well, let’s just say, you basically handled the equivalent of a Petri dish full of germs. So, go on, give those toys a spa day, the wash cycle will clean and “de-funk-ify” those icky playthings. Both you and your dog will be all that much happier!
#6) Remove Funky Gunk (And Questionable Residue) With Wipes
Cleaning everything from baby bums to pooch paws, wet wipes are another must-have item for pet parents. Once you arrive from your dog walks and other outdoor adventures, merely use a gentle baby wet wipe to clean off dirt, mud, and gunk before entering the house. When you add a few extra minutes to your routine by adding this quick step, you lessen the chances of tracking in things from the outside that may increase unwanted smells.
About the author:
Lindsay Pereira is a pet-lov’in Montréal-based writer who’s a “mommy” to Maya, a sweet-tempered senior Labrador/Rottweiler and Muffy, a grumpy guinea pig with a serious attitude problem. She writes about pets at Animallama.